Bujumbura, Burundi — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Bujumbura on Thursday, marking a significant diplomatic visit aimed at deepening bilateral relations between Somalia and Burundi. Upon his arrival, he was met with a ceremonial reception at the international airport, where Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye personally welcomed him, signaling the importance of the visit. The discussions between the two leaders were primarily focused on security cooperation, a critical issue given the volatile situations in both their regions. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud highlighted the shared challenges of combating terrorism, piracy, and instability, which have long plagued Somalia and its neighbors. The talks also touched upon economic collaboration, including the potential for trade agreements that could benefit both nations’ economies. A significant portion of their dialogue was dedicated to Burundi’s role in ATMIS, where Burundian troops have been instrumental in supporting stabilization efforts in Somalia. President Hassan Sheikh praised Burundi’s commitment,...

The 23rd Summit of COMESA Heads of State and Government is underway in Bujumbura, Burundi, where President Evariste Ndayishimiye has assumed the bloc’s leadership, taking over from his Zambia’s counterpart Hakainde Hichilema. As the new Chair, Mr Ndayishimiye will guide the 21-member trade alliance for the next year. The summit, held on October 31, 2024, centered on the theme “Accelerating Regional Integration through the Development of Regional Value Chains in Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Mining, and Tourism,” setting a focused agenda on bolstering cooperation across these critical sectors. The gathering also established a new COMESA Bureau, designating Burundi as Chair, Kenya as Vice Chair, and Zambia as Rapporteur. Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe presented the State of Integration Report, which outlined notable progress in intra-regional trade facilitation, including enhancements in customs border management, streamlined clearance procedures, and the digitisation of trade systems. Ms Kapwepwe also underscored the expansion of the regional food...

African leaders have been called to strengthen regional value chains as part of a concerted effort to drive economic integration and reshape the continent’s economic prospects. The call was made by Amb. Claver Gatete, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, during the October 31 COMESA summit held in Bujumbura, Burundi. ALSO READ: Rwanda asks Burundi to protect citizens after latest border closure Gatete emphasized the necessity for African nations to broaden their regional value chains as a step towards forging a more unified economy. ALSO READ: Burundi’s breach of EAC free trade regime will hurt own economy, says trade minister “This requires not only removing all the barriers to intra-African trade but also creating incentives for greater cross-border investment,” he said. Gatete also took the opportunity to commend COMESA for the implementation of the Tripartite Free Trade Area, which became operational in July. He highlighted the...

Brazzaville — More than 13 000 laboratory-confirmed mpox cases have been reported in the African region since the start of 2024, as of 17 November. Three countries – Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda – account for approximately 97% of all reported cases so far this year. From reinforcing outbreak control measures including health worker training, to the delivery of medical supplies and equipment, and to the development of vaccine deployment plans, World Health Organization (WHO) is providing critical technical and financial support to countries to effectively respond to and end the mpox outbreaks in the region. While much of the focus has been on those countries whose populations are at higher risk of exposure to mpox due to larger outbreaks, WHO is also supporting countries experiencing sporadic cases. With WHO support most countries in the region that have been affected by mpox this year have successfully prevented...

Gatare Libère’s innovative software seeks to drive positive change in society Mr. Libère, 26, is the co-founder of ACLIS, a pioneering start-up leveraging technology to drive social change. He spoke to Nathan Hastings-Spaine for Africa Renewal about his start-up: Can you tell us about yourself? My name is Gatare Libère and I am the co-founder ACLIS, a pioneering tech startup in Burundi focused on driving positive social change through innovative software and mobile App development. Our team is a dynamic mix of young creatives, designers, developers and business leaders, working together to create engaging digital and impactful digital products. My tech journey began in my childhood in Bujumbura, where I loved playing around with computers whenever I could find one. This fascination with technology followed me to Kenya, where I attended high school. How did you get into tech? During my senior year, a guest speaker, who was software engineer...